Chris Kendall is a holistic nutritionist who is passionate about the raw food diet, particularly the 80 10 10 style of raw veganism. We spoke with him about fruit, the 80 10 10 diet, being in the moment and other related topics. If you're considering going on a fruit-based diet, this interview is for you.

Q. What led you to start eating a raw vegan diet?A. Really I got into raw veganism because it simply made sense on all levels and I could tell it was what I was looking for. By the time I went raw, I had been transitioning to a high raw low fat vegan already, had been studying and applying health principals for 5 years, and was half way through my schooling to become an RHN, registered holistic nutritionist. Initially I got into "health" for athleticism.Q. What is your personal approach to eating raw?A. Simple as simple can be. I eat the whole fresh raw ripe fruits and veggies that I love the absolute most with no restriction. I enjoy mono meals, as well as simple recipes, such as in my "101 Frickin' Rawsome Recipes" ebook by donation, or slightly more "transitional," as in my upcoming "TRA Retreat Treats" recipe book. In general I get my calories from fruit, enjoy lots of greens and fruit veggies and smaller amounts of fatty fruits, nuts and seeds. 80/10/10 :)Q. What were some of the initial and long term benefits that you've experienced since eating raw?A. As I had already been clearing out for awhile, I felt a instant burst of energy and a much deeper connection to self, others and divine, knowing all was really one. As time went on, joint pains, depression, candida, body odor, rough skin, lethargy all dissipated and left! Q. Do you feel that there is a connection between diet, especially a raw vegan diet, and practices like meditation, yoga, and tai chi?A. I do feel that a simple low fat raw vegan diet is the highest vibrational and sustainable food based diet one can thrive on. As such it allows one to tune in and become mindful of various levels of vibrations within and without, potentially having a huge impact on any energetic, mindful practice or art. Q. How do you feel about frozen fruit? Do you think it can be an adaquate source of nutrition for those who cannot easily access, or afford to eat, ripe, non-frozen fruit?A. While I personally would prefer to have the vast majority of my fruit fresh, I recognize that freezing food is the best method of preservation with the least nutrient damage possible. Since raw fruit and tender young greens make up our most nutritious food sources per calorie by far, frozen fruit would be number two. I use frozen foods from time to time, usually blended into fresh, being mindful to chew and swallow when at body temperature. Swallowing cold foods/drink is hard on digestion, as well as some beneficial bacteria in our GI. Q. What are some of the foods that you find yourself, or your coaching clients, eating the most?A. Sweet juicy fruit!!! Bananas, mangos, melons, grapes, tomatoes, dates, mmm sooo much, all flowing with personal preference and the seasons :)Q. How do you feel about blended foods? What is a favorite recipe of yours?A. I go through days, weeks and months blending often or not at all, preference fruit availability and in the moment needs come into play. Whole food has many benefits, blending foods has benefits too! Hmmm… one of my favorite simple recipes is orange creamsicle, equal parts honeydew and orange juice, otherwise my "presto sun dried tomato pesto," both in my "101 Frickin' Rawsome Recipes".Q. What are some of the areas that you focus on with your coaching clients besides diet?A. While diet is often a subject talked on, the emotional, social, and spiritual side of improving ones lifestyle more often than not comes up. I really feel the raw diet is a vortex of positive change, a precursor to true mind, body, spirit holistic awakening and growth.Q. What are some effective ways that you've found to be helpful for dealing with emotional eating?A. To learn to eat for nourishment, to learn to feel emotions instead of numbing them with food. Simple mindfulness, breath work, exercise, a change of perspective to see all as a gift, creating loving acceptance of what is, knowing that it shall pass and be released more assuredly, and with ease if loved and accepted. Q. Do you have any advice for someone who wants to feel more connected to the moment and experience greater levels of inspiration and contentment?A. Breathe. Love with every breath, feel it come in and move out with every cell. Intentional conscious breathing, especially from/with love/heart space brings such ease, connection and inner joy. My mantra many a time has been "breathe love," "breathe" on the in and "love" on the out.Q. Where can people get in contact with you?A. Blessed to share years of fun, information and inspiration at http://TheRawAdvantage.com :) Loads of free information, 2 free ebooks just for joining my mailing list, books, ebooks, t-shirts kitchen tools, retreats, consultations by donation and much more!

Q: Your new book has an interesting title and concept. What is the basic message that you are delivering through it?

A: The concept of The Live-it Lifestyle was created out of a conversation I had with a good friend on the way back from a health seminar. The diet community in large is focused on restriction, reductionism, and in many ways fundamentalism. It is a competitive field where new books on specific “diets” are proposed and often times put on a pedestal as the end all solution to achieving “health”. The term health is actually very poorly defined as it does not embody one definitive answer, it is more of a general term that can encompass a vast array of possibilities, not just the absence of sickness as the western medical paradigm concludes. The live it lifestyle is the idea that in order to create a life of vibrance, clarity, enthusiasm, and robust physical vigor we must challenge the belief systems we may have adopted through our travels in this life. I believe that the most positive move anyone can make with their health is to find out what they are here on this planet to do and then use nutrition as a way to fuel that purpose. Often times in the diet field people take the dietary philosophy to an inappropriate extreme and turn it into a religion which if anyone has paid attention over the course of history, we can see where that mentality usually leads. The diet world is a mine field of propaganda, misinformation, and over arching contradictory messages which in my opinion counter act true healthy living. In order to truly live we must move in the direction of what brings us joy, happiness, pleasure, and excitement. This applies to all aspects of our lives and that is the message of this book.

Q: What inspired you to start eating a raw food diet? What are some of the initial benefits that you noticed when first eating this way?

A: I began getting seriously into raw foods when I was reaching road blocks in my rehabilitation of an ankle injury I had years ago. I had actually had two knee surgeries as an aspiring athlete and I found myself having a lot of difficulty getting all the way back into the condition I was accustomed too. I found a David Wolfe video online, it made so much sense to me I decided to take it on and within one month I remember running 5 miles in the hills, after the run I thought to myself “I am not in pain!”. This was a major discovery for me at that time. The additional benefits I gained was tremendous clarity over my life. I began to deepen my personal awareness of the world around me and begun to really notice the set backs we have accumulated in our society. This drove me to research and learn as much as I could, which has now lead me to where I am now.

Q: You mention, on your website, that you were involved in athletics for many years and were even an Olympic hopeful. Has eating raw food and super foods increased your overall athletic abilities even more?

A: I was competing in Tae Kwon Do pursuing a position on the US Team. I had my first knee surgery at 19 and my 2nd at 23 during my serious competitive years in TKD. I decided to put martial arts to the side for awhile to pursue my first love, basketball. The first thing I noticed transitioning into raw foods and now being a raw foodist/super foodist/herbalist is that my recovery time is dramatically shortened between training. I used to train 2-3 sessions per day, I do not train anywhere near that much anymore but I do notice my knee’s are completely out of pain or aches. I can jump into action much faster then I could on different dietary approaches/standard diet. The most startling thing I notice is my response time is extremely fast, especially in basketball. Basketball is a sport where you are required to make split second decisions at high speed action. I used to be hesitant or slow to make decisions on the court, now I notice even when I’m out of consistent practice I make much faster decisions and can respond to different things happening on the court with more alertness and less delay. The mind is sharpened and in turn the body can respond with more grace and ease.

Q: What do you typically eat everyday? Are there any foods that you found to be key in your overall diet?

A: My personal diet changes as I change. Originally I ate a lot of conventional/organic fruits and vegetables, nuts, and some seeds. I have made a lot of upgrades since then. I am a big fan of green vegetable juices, super food smoothies, green leafy salads, fruit when in season, lot’s of berries in the summer, herbal tonic drinks. As far as a staple it’s hard to say because I rotate all my foods around. I am a chocolatier so raw cacao is a staple for me, I love chocolate with a passion. It is the most alchemical food on the planet so I use it as a delivery tool for herbs, spices, and other super foods. Green Leafy Vegetables are easily a staple as I would never want to go too long without saturating my body with them. I am a certified plant eater so greens are great! I also love berries, all kinds of berries!

Q: What are some quick tips that you would suggest to someone who wants to feel better and more inspired?

A: If someone wants to feel better and generate more inspiration the first thing I can say is spend some time by yourself, perhaps in nature, and figure out what it is you want to pursue in this life. The greatest catalyst for change in someone’s life is the realization of their all encompassing purpose, everything else will follow behind it. I would say use nutrition as a fuel source for your life, if you are eating junk you will feel like junk and in the end will produce junky results. The old saying is the body follows the mind, but in contrast the mind follows the body as well. If your body is out of balance how can one expect their mental acuity to be in proper balance? In terms of nutrition advice I would say learn and implement more green vegetable juices, super foods, better quality water, and continue to upgrade all the food choices you are already making for better choices.

Q: Do you have any events coming up in the next year?

A: I am doing a great event on June 30th with David ‘Avocado’ Wolfe in Northern California. After that I’m heading down to Southern California for a great event with my friend Carolyn Marie Solton. I have others talks sprinkled in and around those.

Q: How can people get in contact with you and where can they buy your book?

A: People can find me on Facebook, that seems to be the main mode of online communication. Also www.ronnielandis.com and they can find my book on amazon.com by typing in “The Live-it Lifestyle: Dropping Diets Forever!”